Can.



C. F. SCHNEBELIN.

CAN. APPLICATION FILED JAN 8. 1914.

, Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

CHARLES F. SCHNEBELIN, OIE PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STUBERP & KUGK$0., OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CGRBORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed January 8, 1914. Serial N 0. 811,064.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrrAnLns F. SCHNEBE- LIN, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Peoria, in the countyof Peoria and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cans; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to metal receptacles for storing and shippingpurposes and particularly to a rectangular metal cake and cracker can.

The main object of the invention is to furnish a brace for each uppercorner of a cake or cracker can of the rectangular type.

Another object is to provide a brace for four corners of the top of acan whereby said can will withstand considerable crushing weight andstrain to which it is subject ed in use.

Another object is to construct a corner brace for the purpose describedhaving a depression in its upper surface to receive the overlying endsof certain of the parts of the can whereby said ends may be made to lieflush with one another and form a sanitary joint.

As ordinarily constructed a cracker or cake can usually has an inneroverhanging lip or flange formed on each of its four sides forming acontinuous flange around said top, said flanges being soldered togetherat the corners in an'attempt to strengthen the can against :heavystrains and pressures. However, the experience of large manufacturers ofthis class of receptacle is that large numbers of the receptacles arecontinually being returned for repairs. These require reshapingandresoldering. so they will once more be usable. This means, of course,that the box is very easily crushed out of shape, the soldered jointsbeing broken.

It is the purpose of the present invention, as set forth in the objects,to furnish a brace for each of the four corners of the receptacle thatcan be placed in position and secured by turning the metal over upon it,requiring no solder. It being found that a receptacle thus made willwithstand an exceedingly heavy pressure, and one that is not ordinarilymet with, before the form of the receptacle can be changed. Consequentlysuch a receptacle is practically indestructible. Furthermore, byeliminating the feature of soldering at the corners and substituting thebraces, which are preferably constructed of scrap material, a saving ofcost in manufacture is the result.

The invention besides the above objects relates to certain new and novelfeatures of construction which will be understood from the followingspecification.

In order to make the invention understood I have provided theaccompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 shows the receptacle or can in perspective. Fig. 2 is a plan ofa blank from which the brace is formed. Fig. 3 shows one of the bracesin perspective. Fig. i is a cross section of a brace and the metal ofthe receptacle or can inclosing it. Fig. 5 shows the bracket inperspective together with a part of the metal of the receptacle formedupon and around it and showing a sunken portion of the brace. Fig. 6shows the edge of the brace and the ends lying upon it.

A represents an ordinary square or rectangular cake or cracker canprovided with the usual hinged lid B, C representing an in neroverhanging lip or flange at each of the four sides at the top of thecan.

Fig. 2 shows a metal blank from which the corner brace shown in Fig. 3is formed. Preferably this blank consists of a strip of metal -D havingmidway its length a notch or slit E extending substantially half wayacross it. This blank is then formed as shown in Fig. 3 by bending atright angles lengthwise on the dotted line, Fig. 2, creating two flangesF and G substantially perpendicular to one another. The flange F is thenbent edgewise so as to create arms lying at right angles to one anotherto fit into a corner or angle of said can. When placed in position, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the metal of the sides of the canis bent into the described flanges C and lies upon the top of the flangeF, thence being recurved beneath and against said flange as clearlyshown in Fig. 4.

The flanges G in order to make the neatest job are mitered at thecorners of the box, and in order to make a thoroughly sanitary jointbetween the ends of any two of these flanges one of them is made tooverlie the other so that dirt and germs cannot get between the ends orbetween said flanges. In

order that this can be done in the best manner the upper flange F ofeach brace is provided with a depression, as indicated at H, whichdepression preferably lies slightly to one side of the angle of saidbrace so that one of the ends of the flanges, for instance C in Figs. 5and 6, can be forced down into it. This depression lies below the endsof two adjacent flanges C, one end of one of the latter overlying theother. Now, by pressure of a suitable die upon the ends the lowermostone is forced into the depression H. The upper surface of the otherflange overlying it is thus brought flush with the upper surface of theadjacent flange C. Fig. 5' clearly shows the smooth tight jointresulting from this construction. The parts of the'flange that liebeneath the limb F are at the same time closed snugly upon the lat ter,the resulting finished job being exceedingly firm, no solder or otherholding means being required.

The depression- H may be formed in the brace by the same die andat thesame time that the flange C is depressed since this is more choice as tothe best and easiest manner of performing the several operations. 7

Ido not wish to be confined to the particular structure describedas tothe can structure herein since slight changes may be made that will liewithin the meaning of the appended claims.

Having described claim 1. The combination with a can having one or moreangles or corners, of a brace lying in one of the angles thereofcomprising a part having two limbs lying substantially at right anglesto one another to conformto and lie against two sides of the can andineluding a limb bent substantially perpendicularly to the planes of thetwo said limbs and having the metal of the sides bent over upon andinclosing the same, said brace having a depression in its top surface, aportion of each of the sides of the can, where my invention, I

it incloses the brace, lying in said depression.

2. The combination in a rectangular can.

Copies of; this patent may be obtained for another,

includingits sides and an inner overhanging flange terminating the topof two of its sides, an angular brace lying in the angle formed by thetwo said sides and including top surface, a portion ofone of the saidoverhanging flanges lying in and terminating in said depression, the endof the adjacent flange lying upon said'portion within the depression andhaving its top flush with that part of the top surface of the firstflange that lies outside the depression.

3. The combination with a rectangular receptacle, of a brace lying inthe angle formed by two of its walls and having a limb lying parallel toeach of the latter and including a flange overhanging the inner portionof the receptacle, the angle of the said brace lying in the corner ofthe re ceptacle, each wall having a part overlying the said flange, saidflange having adepression lying opposite the angle of the walls thereceptacle, the parts of the walls being mitered at the corners or angleof said receptacle, the mitered endslying upon one another in saiddepression, the top surface of the uppermost one being flush with the 7l. lhe combination with a receptacle having wall portions lying at anangle to one including overturned terminal edges forming a flange at theopen side of said receptacle, or a'brace conforming substantially to andlying in the angle, the

plane of said brace lying'perpendicular to the plane of said wallportions and inclosed" inthe said terminal edges of the'latter at thesaid open side of the can, said brace having a depression in its uppersurface at the said angle of the wall portions of the said terminaledges to receive the meeting ends of the latter. r

In testimony whereof I aflix signa-' ture, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. SOHNEBELIN. Witnesses:

W. I. SLEMMONS, V EUNIoE M. BEGKUM.

five cents each, by addre ssinge the Commissioner ol Patents Washington,I). G.

